Freedom fighters keep away from Independence Day programme

Twenty-six freedom fighters, who were to be felicitated by the Jharkhand government on the occasion of Independence Day here, did not turn up to protest the government's alleged failure to provide them houses as promised.The 26 freedom fighters of the East Singhbhum district were to be honoured at Gopal Maidan on the occasion of Independence Day but the tent set up for them remained vacant.The freedom fighters alleged that the government had promised to provide them houses or plot for construction of houses last year but they did not fulfil the promise.Alleging that the state government had not taken any initiative in this regard as yet, the freedom fighters decided to refrain from taking part in the celebration, Jagannath Mohanty, spokesman of Singhbhum Zilla Swantrata Senani Sangathan, said here.He said former Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das had promised to build houses or allot plots to them in three months time while unfurling national flag on this day last year.Das, in fact, had initiated steps in this regard but the district administration adopted negligent approach, he said.When contacted, Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who hoisted the national flag on the occasion, said the government would take the initiative and keep its promise in six month time.